photo by: Nick Krug

Free State receiver Keenan Garber looks to break away after a catch against Lawrence High during the third quarter on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 at Free State High School.

Even by Keenan Garber standards, the touchdown was absurd.

In the second quarter of last week’s City Showdown, Garber scored on a 30-yard touchdown to add to Free State’s lead. The senior receiver ran a flat route to the FSHS sideline, as junior quarterback Malik Berry hit Garber near the 20-yard line.

As soon as he caught the ball, Garber had to spin away from a Lawrence High defender. Garber made the next LHS defender miss with a back cut before breaking two more tackles on his way to the end zone.

Garber simply tossed the ball to the official and trotted nonchalantly back to the sideline. After all, Garber has become all too familiar with scoring touchdowns.

“That is just what comes with the hard work in the offseason,” Garber said. “We want to score as quickly as possible and lock it down on defense.”

photo by: Nick Krug

Lawrence High defensive back Kendrick Hobson puts a hit on Free State receiver Keenan Garber who avoids the tackle during the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 at Free State High School. Garber ran in the catch for a touchdown.

But Garber has been finding the end zone since he started playing football in the second grade, in which he began as a running back.

“I scored a lot of touchdowns back then,” Garber said. “Probably a lot more.”

That is saying something.

Garber has scored 18 offensive touchdowns on 37 total offensive touches for the Firebirds, who are the No. 2 seed in the 6A West playoff bracket. FSHS (8-0) plays host to Wichita North (2-6) at 7 p.m. Friday in the first round of the postseason.

As a team, Free State has scored 47 offensive touchdowns en route to a second straight undefeated regular season.

“With his explosiveness, we were hoping he could make plays like he has,” FSHS head coach Bob Lisher said. “He makes plays when we need him to make plays.”

Garber, who is verbally committed to Kansas State, has been a big play waiting to happen whenever he touches the ball.

Through eight games, Garber has scored 12 touchdowns from a distance of 25 yards or more. Free State, meanwhile, has recorded 21 such scores as a team. Garber has also set the tone in nearly every contest, scoring nine times in the opening quarter this year.

However, Garber has not even been at full strength during his stellar campaign. Garber, who also plays safety on the defensive side of the ball, has been battling a foot injury for much of the second half of the season.

“He brings a lot, I just wish we could get him healthy,” Lisher said. “We were hoping by now that thing would be healed up. Obviously, he’s explosive even with a bad ankle.”

Garber switched from running back to receiver after his freshman season, though, mostly by necessity as FSHS wanted to get him on the field.

Since then, Garber has improved his route running and blocking over the last three years. He’s added muscle to his frame in the offseason, helping him shed more tacklers. All of which will be beneficial for when he plays receiver at the next level.

“I’m just really excited for the playoffs,” Garber said. “To see what we can do.”

Prediction: Free State over Wichita North

FSHS probable starters

Offense

QB — Jaxson Webb, sr.; RB — Jax Dineen, sr.; WR — Peyton Sparks, sr.; WR — Jaxon Webb, sr.; H — Matt Lane, sr.; H — LJ Mack, sr.; TE — Jake Zenger, sr.; LT — Frankie Calderon, jr.; LG — Shane Skwarlo, sr.; C — Kyle Flachsbarth, jr.; RG — Zach Rasys, sr.; RT — Ryan Lutz, jr.

Defense

DT — Lovette Epelle, jr.; NT — Devon Buck, jr.; DT — Brandon Zeller, sr.; OLB — Matt Georgie, sr.; ILB — Jalen Nash, sr.; ILB — Jax Dineen, sr.; OLB — Ben Miller, jr.; CB — Oliver Paranjothi, sr.; CB — Jaxon Malone, sr.; FS — Keenan Garber, sr.; SS — Malik Berry, jr.

LHS senior enjoying transition to receiver

Not long after a loss to Gardner Edgerton in the third week of the regular season, Lawrence High senior Garrett Romero came up with the idea to switch positions.

After seeing sophomore Tre’ Jackson perform well in his first start at quarterback, Romero knew it was his best chance to make an impact for the Lions. To Romero’s surprise, though, head coach Steve Rampy approached him with the plan to move Romero to receiver that following week.

“(Rampy) came to me and said he needed me at receiver,” Romero said. “You see in the NFL, people making one-handed catches. You dream about that stuff, and now I get a chance to do it.”

photo by: Kevin Anderson

Garrett Romero tries to slip a way from the defense on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, during a game against Olathe South at Olathe District Activity Center. LHS fell to O-South, 26-10.

Romero started the first two games at quarterback before dealing with a shoulder injury.

Jackson stepped in, and the offense showed improvement in his debut during a 20-point loss to Gardner Edgerton. As a result, Rampy elected to make Romero a receiver to help a unit that dealt with multiple injuries.

“He realized when we made the change to Tre’ early in the season that it was a good thing for our team,” Rampy said. “He’s too quality of a person not to find some other way for him to contribute.”

It was not the first time that Romero had been asked to step in to help out an injured unit.

Last season, Romero played receiver for LHS during the final weeks of the year after starting at quarterback in the season opener. He’s shown the ability to play multiple positions on the field throughout his career in order to help the team.

“He’s a program guy, he will always do what we ask him to do,” Rampy said. “He’s going to do his job as hard as he can do it every time.”

In the first round of the postseason, Romero may be asked to go back to quarterback. Jackson’s status is unknown after sustaining an ankle injury in a loss to Free State during the fourth quarter.

Romero or sophomore quarterback Jackson Dooley are the options for Lawrence (1-7), as the team travels to No. 1 Derby (8-0) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Yet it does not change things for Romero, who prepared to play receiver and quarterback during practice just like any other week.

“It is about the same,” Romero said. “I have to be ready. Wherever they need me, I’ll be there.”

photo by: Carter Gaskins

Lawrence High player Garrett Romero (12) runs the ball down the open gap in the middle to avoid a safety as Shawnee Mission East’s P.J. Spencer (7) tries to stop him on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 at Lawrence High School.

Since transitioning to receiver in Week 4, Romero has made strides at that position in each game.

Romero has improved his blocking and route running, but it did not translate to results until last week. Romero caught three passes for 31 yards in the 28-13 loss to Free State during the City Showdown.

For Romero, it was good to see his hard work finally pay off.

“I felt good to get that first catch,” Romero said. “It felt good to get those jitters out.”

Prediction: Derby over Lawrence

LHS probable starters

Offense

QB — Tre’ Jackson so.; RB — Austin Hollins, jr.; WR — Bryson Cummins, sr.; WR — Chris McGee, jr.; WR — Garrett Romero, sr.; TE — Nick Ray, jr.; LT — Kyle Miller, sr.; LG — MJ Issa, so.; C — Porter Dannevik, so.; RG — AJ Powell sr.; RT — Bryce Tibke, sr.

Defense

DE — Sam Bart, sr.; NG — EJ Jewsome, sr.; DE — Eric Galbreath, sr.; OLB — Colby Stumma, sr.; MLB — Caleb Mondi, sr.; CB — DeShon Lewis, jr.; CB — Dre Bridges, jr.; FS — Kallun Chitama, so.; FS — Payton Cummins, sr.; SS — Cole Mondi, so.; SS — Marquis Jones, sr.

Tonganoxie vs. Chanute

Tonganoxie enters the postseason on a six-game win streak after dropping the first two games of the year.

The Chieftains (6-2) have won their previous six outings by an average margin of 14.6 points per game. They have also scored at least 20 points over the previous six weeks after recording 13 total points in the first two contests. Meanwhile, Chanute (4-4) has not won a game since Sept. 28.

Prediction: Tonganoxie over Chanute

Baldwin at Paola

Baldwin looks to snap a four-game skid in the first round of the 4A playoffs.

The Bulldogs (2-6), who have scored a total of 16 points over the previous four contests, have not won a game since Sept. 21. Paola (7-1) is coming off its lone loss of the year, dropping a 25-7 decision to Louisburg at home. Louisburg claimed a 27-7 win over Baldwin in the third week of the regular season.

Prediction: Paola over Baldwin

Eudora at Basehor-Linwood

Eudora won just one game in the regular season under first-year head coach Sean Hayden.

The Cardinals (1-7) recorded a 26-7 victory over Ottawa after starting the season on a five-game skid. Eudora played its best game of the year last week, however, during a 21-14 overtime loss to Fort Scott. Entering the postseason, Basehor-Linwood (7-1) has won six straight games.

Prediction: Basehor-Linwood over Eudora

Perry-Lecompton vs. Wamego

Perry-Lecompton has just two blemishes on its impressive run through the 2018 regular season.

The Kaws (6-2) nearly forced overtime in a 35-33 loss to defending 3A state champion Sabetha. Perry-Lecompton also dropped a 20-0 decision to Hayden, a program that just joined Class 3A this year. The Kaws have scored at least 24 points in all but one game this year. Wamego (5-3) is coming of a 41-34 win over Holton.

Prediction: Perry-Lecompton over Wamego

Prediction record

Last week: 6-0

Season: 41-8